Battered Women’s Support Services is honoured to present Angela Davis in Vancouver at the Orpheum Theatre on November 29, 2017

Tickets are available now on the Ticketmaster website.

Tickets:  A range of ticket options are available.
Ticket with a pre show reception with Angela Davis at 6PM $100
General admission tickets available at $30, $40 & $50

Get involved:  We are seeking ticket sponsorship for identified communities, if you would like to sponsor tickets please email endingviolence@bwss.org  

Get Your Tickets Now!

Angela Davis Feminist & Writer

Through her activism and scholarship over many decades, Angela Davis has been deeply involved in movements for social justice around the world. Her work as an educator –both at the university level and in the larger public sphere –has always emphasized the importance of building communities of struggle for economic, racial, and gender justice.

On September 21, 2017 a team from Battered Women’s Support Services headed north to Prince Rupert, Tsimshian Territory, BC from Vancouver Coast Salish Territories. A 350-kilometre journey from Prince Rupert to Smithers, Wet’suwet’en Territory, BC on the, Highway of Tears, where the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls hearings began on September 26, 2017. The team includes women from the Indigenous Women’s Program (IWP) at BWSS, Terriea Harris, the manager of the IWP, Indigenous Women’s Support Worker, Summer Rain and Indigenous Women’s Counsellor, Lavita Trimble.  The women were joined by Rosa Elena Arteaga, manager of Direct Services and Clinical Practice at BWSS. The BWSS team united with the families and advocates, including women from our sister organization, Downtown Eastside Women’s Centre and Audrey Siegl, an independent activist from the unceded lands of the Musqueam, who has been active on grassroots environmental and social justice-political frontline movements.

The Justice for Tears is organized by Gladys Radek whose niece Tamara Lynn Chipman went missing on the highway 12 years ago.  There is much speculation on the exact number of women and girls who have disappeared on the Highway of Tears over the last 50 years, many people say that the number of missing women combined with the number of murdered women exceeds 50.

“We are so honoured to be able to take part in the 7th walk through the Highway of Tears to remember Tamara Lynn Chipman. This walk is not only to remember her life, but to remember and bring light to the horrific levels of violence Indigenous women and girls face every day”, said Summer Rain, Indigenous Women’s Support Worker at BWSS, “This is an opportunity as Indigenous women as family members and as survivors to reclaim space that for Indigenous women would be compromised or a risk to our safety”. BWSS is grateful to Skundaal Bernie Williams for the invitation to join the walk.

On the journey, Angela Marie MacDougall BWSS Executive Director, met up with the team in Moricetown, Wet’suwet’en Territory, BC where they walked together to Smithers and gathered at the Dze L K’Ant Friendship Centre Society. Inquiry commissioner Michele Audette also joined the group for most of the walk in solidarity and support and Tina House from APTN news provided important coverage.

The BWSS support team is a part of the official health team for the hearings in Smithers, Wet’suwet’en Territory, BC. Health support workers are on standby for needs of the women and families who are sharing their stories and statements to the Commissioners during the hearings. The team provides emotional support as well as cultural support and any other needs that are required.

Thus far, the government has been slow to act on other recommendations, such as those from the 2006 Highway of Tears symposium who did not release its recommendations until 2013 and the Missing Women Commission of Inquiry in BC where virtually nothing has happened through those recommendations. These are reasons for much skepticism about the outcome of the inquiry however, there is also hope. “Many Indigenous women and girls feel desperate to flee violence and oppressive experiences in the North but their only way of leaving is the Highway of Tears. The perfect set up for predators”, said Terriea Harris, Manager, Indigenous Women’s Program at BWSS “The time is now for the Action and we hang on to the hope of what will come through the National Inquiry”.

(Skeena River at Moricetown, Wet’suwet’en Territory, BC – Photos and videos courtesy of Angela Marie MacDougall & Audrey Siegl, follow Audrey on Instagram for more photos)

The hearings will wrap today, September 28, 2017 with a family sharing circle in the evening. Look for more updates from our team members from the days and weeks to come.

SEX ECONOMIES,
Individual Exploration workshops.

October 5th to November 6th
10 AM TO 12 NOON

A series of Individual Exploration Workshops that will support participants to identify short and long term goals and take action steps towards achieving them.

The group welcomes:
• Self- Identified women who have in the past or who are currently engaging in sex economies and would like to access supports and/or reduce their reliance on sex economies.

Workshops will explore:
• Self-Discovery, Coping Skills, Boundaries and Assertiveness, Healthier Relationships, Self-Care, Impacts of Abuse and Stigma and Self-Awareness and Stress Management. .
• Ways to strengthen the skills you already have and build your capacity to work towards your goals.

If interested, please call or email Marina, 604-808-4378 or transitions@bwss.org

We congratulate Niki Sharma, who has recently accepted a position working with the provincial government and will leave the position of Manager, Legal Services and Advocacy.  Though it is difficult to see Niki leave BWSS it is wonderful to know she will apply her talents towards making British Columbia a better place.

Niki shared this touching acknowledgement of the crucial work that happens every day in the effort to end violence against women at Battered Women’s Support Services.

“By the time a woman has picked up the phone to call Battered Women’s Support Services, she has suffered greatly from violence and at the hands of the systems that are supposed to protect her and her family from violence.

Her call is answered by a committed and passionate group of women that will do everything they can to empower her to find safety and overcome. They will ferociously take on the systems that stand in the way of her empowerment.

I have been a part of BWSS for over ten years now. Recently, I have had a chance to work alongside this dedicated team. I will be forever grateful for this time. It has taught me that we can create systems that are strong enough to dismantle oppression and make real change.  Every service, program and intervention offered by BWSS is thoughtfully designed with one thing in mind – whether it will help end violence in a woman’s life. This unwavering purpose runs deeply throughout this organization and has kept it strong in the face of any challenges.

I learned that for the first ten years of its existence, BWSS operated without any paid staff – a group of volunteers answered the calls of women in crisis. From these humble beginnings and against all odds, BWSS leadership has built this organization in strength and numbers to thrive for over 35 years. I have much respect for this achievement and the impact this has on women every day.

Although I am sad to leave my role at BWSS, I will remain a part of this organization in any way I can in the future. ” 

Over 80% of women accessing BWSS services identify at least one legal issue where they require information. BWSS legal services and advocacy work spans family, immigration, refugee, and criminal law as well as the Indian Act. It cannot be underscored enough how important access to justice and our Legal Services and Advocacy Program are for women’s long term safety and freedom from violence.

Our legal team includes supervised staff, interns and volunteer lawyers that provide legal information, accompaniment to court and legal appointments, we appeal when legal aid has been denied and we provide assistance for documents and affidavits preparation.

Learn more about the Legal Services and Advocacy Program at BWSS here.

This group is designed to support women in finding more safety and power in their lives, expand their definition of self beyond the stigmatized definitions they may be carrying, understand internalized oppression, validate positive survival intentions underlying addictive behaviours, and explore preferred ways to meet these needs.

“I received compassion for my struggles. Gained more insight and self-awareness about why I think and act the way I do so I’m less confused and ashamed of my thoughts, feelings, and behaviors”

The group welcomes all self-identified women…
• who are seeking more empowerment in their lives and/or
• who have substance use issues or who have used substances as a coping strategy and/or
• who are in a journey of self-discovery and/or
• who are interested in exploring healthier relationships

Abstinence from substance use is not required in order to attend.

This is an ongoing drop-in support group starting September 2017 and women can start at any time.

“The most important thing for me was that I’m allowed to affirm that I will have the power to take charge of my life and stop being dependent on other people for my self-esteem and security.”

Each week the group explores a step in the journey of self awareness, self discovery and resilience. This is an open support group and we will be accepting new participants on an ongoing basis. At its core, this model is based on love, not fear, internal control not external authoritarianism, affirmation not deflation and trust in the ability of people to find their own healing path when given education, support, hope and choices.

For more information and/or to join the group please call 604.687.1867 or email intake@bwss.org